Game-Key cards. Outside the casual player, most avid “gamers” were ripshit over this new concept that was announced alongside Nintendo’s latest console, the Switch 2. They lit their X or Blue-Sky torches and pitchforks, slamming Nintendo for their greed and carelessness about game preservation. Months after the Switch 2 launch, some developers have spoken up to provide a much-needed perspective that I think teaches us that we need to be less hostile to Nintendo (or anyone’s) innovative ideas in the industry.
What are Game-Key Cards?
If you’re reading this article, you probably have heard about it already and hold some opinion on it (and likely a negative one); however, it is important to review the basics. A Game-Key card is a physical Switch cartridge that acts as a “key” to unlock a digital download of a game. The initial download will require the internet; however, internet is not required for subsequent use. You do need to cartridge inserted during play, and it can be re-sold as they aren’t tied to the console or your account. There are key elements (no pun intended) that feel physical and digital at the same time.
The “Physical” Debate
I would bet that the majority of people who even care about the matter declare that game-key cards are not true physical games. In fact, Japan’s National Library believes game-key cards aren’t physical media and therefore for eligible for preservation. It’s difficult to argue against an institution as large as this, and it only fuels gamers’ disgust for game-key cards even further.
Developers Speak Out
We have two recent cases of developers speaking out in defense of the game-key card, not to convince people the format is “physical”, but rather why this option can be a good thing. That is it not driven out of pure greed. The first example comes from Ubisoft’s audio architect for their Snowdrop engine, Rob Bantin. He explained that Ubisoft struggled with putting games on the Switch 2 cartridge, as it doesn’t transfer data as quickly as they’d like. The game-key card provided a solution to this by allowing their games to run from internal storage, which is much faster. This allows games, like Star Wars Outlaws to run better on the Switch 2. In addition, Bantin dismissed cost as a factor–just like the next developer, Masakazu Sugimori.
Masakazu Sugimori is a former Capcom developer who also defended the game-key card. He argues that physical media has a definitive shelf life–degrading over time. The digital aspect may provide the ability for a person to play these games over a longer period. Other factors to consider is that game-key cards can act as measures against illegal copying, provide cost relief for companies that do struggle with this factor, providing access to a game even when online services for older hardware is shut down, and potential creates for jobs for porting when there is a desire to re-release the game. He even laughs a little over the idea that as success as Nintendo is, why they would bother nickel and diming small developers. Portions of his translated Tweet is below:
In the end, I don’t think anyone is trying to redefine what physical media is; however, it is important to educate yourselves on the how and why decisions are made by industry leaders like Nintendo. It’s very easy for someone to fire off their own opinion on the internet, even though they hold little to no experience in the technology. I’m grateful these industry veterans spoke up and provided real, tangible reasons why game-key cards can be helpful, and not just a means for Nintendo to pocket more of your money for “less”.
What do you think of Bantin and Sugimori’s comments on Nintendo’s game-key cards? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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